Following their recent victory over the Dallas Stars, the St. Louis Blues are gearing up to face the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night. Despite health concerns circulating within the team, Blues Head Coach Drew Bannister remains optimistic about their chances.

Acknowledging the prowess of their upcoming opponents, Bannister noted that the Avalanche are a strong hockey team, boasting veteran leadership, a dangerous first line, and a power play that has been instrumental in their success this season. Aware of the challenge ahead, Bannister is eager to prepare his team for a tough battle on the ice.

In terms of lineup changes, Bannister opted for just one alteration during the optional morning skate leading up to the game against Colorado. Netminder Jordan Binnington will be entrusted with starting in goal against the Avalanche, a decision that will see him tie Grant Fuhr for fourth place on the all-time leaderboard for games played by a Blues goaltender, as both will have 249 games under their belt.

Binnington's previous performances against the Avalanche have been impressive, prompting Bannister to have confidence in his abilities. Although Joel Hofer delivered a stellar performance in their recent victory over Dallas, Bannister believes that Binnington deserves the opportunity to showcase his skills against Colorado. This choice also allows the Blues to potentially use Hofer in Saturday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Unfortunately, forward Pavel Buchnevich missed Thursday's practice due to an illness. Bannister acknowledged that the team is concerned about the health of some players and confirmed that there may be game-time decisions for the matchup against the Avalanche. Commenting on the matter, Bannister expressed his intention to manage the situation carefully, as several players are still affected by the circulating illness within the team.

With Binnington leading the charge between the pipes and an understanding of the challenges posed by the Avalanche, the Blues are poised to give a strong performance on Friday night. Despite the health concerns, Bannister remains confident in the team's ability to compete and come out victorious in what promises to be an exciting encounter.